ODU Returns Home to Face Saint Joseph's and No. 2 North Carolina This Weekend

March 16, 2012
By ODU Athletics

ODU Sports

March 16, 2012

NORFOLK, Va. - The Old Dominion University Women's Lacrosse team returns home for three of their next four matches beginning on Saturday when they host Saint Joseph’s at noon at the Powhatan Sports Complex. The Lady Monarchs then face No. 2 North Carolina on Sunday at 1 p.m.

ODU (1-4) dropped their fourth consecutive decision on Wednesday in a 19-5 setback at Navy. Five different players scored Old Dominion who continues to spread their scoring across the team as nine different Lady Monarchs have scored at least a goal this season. Senior midfielder Rebecca Hartrum currently leads the team with 10 goals on the year. Meanwhile, senior Sarah Geary and freshman Karen Hayde have each split time in goal in the last two contests.

Saint Joseph’s (4-3) is coming off a 14-12 win over Manhattan on Wednesday in Philadelphia. The Hawks, who are coached by Denise Roessler, a 1995 graduate of Old Dominion and teammate of current ODU Interim Head Coach Heather Holt, have won three in a row and are led by senior midfielder Grace Dinn who has 25 goals and two assists on the season. Sophomore midfielder Abby Ananian has added 11 goals and three assists while sophomore midfielder Val Paolucci has eight goals and seven assists to round out the SJU attack. In goal, junior Alisha Aquilino has 49 saves and 61 goals against in seven starts for the Hawks.

No. 2 North Carolina (8-0) plays at No. 13 Georgetown on Saturday before traveling to Norfolk. The Tar Heels can match their best start in school history with a 9-0 start in Washington, D.C. and are led by the nations's leading goal scorer in sophomore attacker Abbey Friend with 28 goals, the nation's sixth-leading goal scorer in senior midfielder Laura Zimmerman (22 goals) and senior attacker Becky Lynch, who is fourth in the country with 15 assists. Meanwhile in goal, junior Lauren Maksym has 46 goals against and 40 saves in eight games for UNC.

ODU is 4-0 all-time against Saint Joseph’s including a thrilling 11-10 win in Philadelphia last season. UNC holds the all-time advantage in the series with ODU, 8-0. Last year in Chapel Hill, No. 4 North Carolina won, 18-7.

Live updates of both games can be found on Twitter at @ODULacrosse as well as live stats and a video feed on ODUSports.com.